On 16 June 2026, SumDU hosted official opening of the COIL Forum of the Alliance of Ukrainian Universities “Virtual International Cooperation and COIL as a Tool for Internationalization of Higher Education.”

The event brought together experts, representatives of Ukrainian universities, faculty members, researchers, and specialists in international affairs to discuss practices of virtual (distance) mobility. It concerns specifically Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) as well as modern approaches to internationalization of higher education.

In her opening remarks, Alla KRASULIA (head of the SumDU International Relations Office) welcomed participants. She emphasized that, amid a full-scale war, virtual mobility and COIL take on special significance as tools for internationalization. It ensures equal access to international experience for students and faculty regardless of their ability to participate in physical mobility. According to her, it is precisely accessibility, inclusivity, and expansion of educational opportunities for all participants in educational process that make such formats of international cooperation particularly valuable for Ukrainian universities today.

In his welcoming remarks to participants, Vasyl KARPUSHA (SumDU rector) underlined importance of systematic development of virtual mobility and education internationalization:

“The greatest achievement lies not in the number of COIL projects implemented or students reached. We have been able to build a comprehensive institutional system in which international online collaboration is integrated into educational programs. That ensures academic recognition of learning outcomes, credit transfer, and reflection of mobility in students’ official documents. Virtual mobility has become not just a separate initiative driven by enthusiasts, but a full-fledged component of the university’s academic ecosystem. It is precisely such systemic solutions that make internationalization accessible to all students, not just those who have an opportunity to study abroad”.

Ivan KOZII (vice rector for research and pedagogical work) welcomed participants on behalf of the Governing Board of the Alliance of Ukrainian Universities (AUU). He noted importance of consolidating efforts of Ukrainian universities to develop modern formats of international cooperation.

Representatives of the AUU International Group also joined the opening session, highlighting the role of COIL and virtual mobility in ensuring access to international experience, strengthening academic partnerships, and developing the global dimension of Ukrainian higher education.

The first substantive presentation at the Forum was delivered by Filmor J. Murillo (director of the Center for International Relations and Partnerships at Camarines Sur Polytechnic College in the Philippines). In his presentation “Breaking Boundaries: Harnessing Collaborative Online International Learning Virtual Exchange (COIL VE) for Equity and Inclusivity in Higher Education”, the speaker shared international experience in using COIL and virtual international exchange as tools to ensure equal access to international education and foster an inclusive educational environment. In particular, the speaker highlighted successful collaboration with SumDU, which since 2021 has been bringing together students and faculty from Ukraine and the Philippines within the COIL projects. In his view, such partnerships exemplify how international cooperation can remain accessible and effective even in face of global challenges.

A special highlight of the first day’s program was the presentation on SumDU’s institutional experience in developing COIL. Alla KRASULIA and Tetiana MAIBORODA presented the university’s journey from its first COIL project in 2019 to creation of a fully-fledged institutional ecosystem of virtual mobility, integrated into educational process, international activities, and mechanisms for academic recognition of learning outcomes.

Forum participants also learned about practices of Alfred Nobel University. Professor Inna STRELCHENKO presented university’s experience in implementing international virtual mobility programs as a tool for digital education and university resilience in wartime. Valeria PISARKOVA’s presentation focused on COIL use to foster innovative and social student entrepreneurship.

Over the next three days, forum participants will address issues related to administration of virtual mobility, regulatory and documentation framework for COIL, pedagogical and methodological aspects of implementing international online projects in social sciences, humanities, and technical fields. They will also discuss COIL development prospects at Ukrainian universities.

The forum will run through 19 June 2026, and will serve as a platform for exchanging experiences, seeking new partnerships, and developing international academic cooperation amid digital transformation of higher education.

The forum organizers adhere to the principle of Open Door Policy and invite all interested colleagues to join discussions, regardless of whether they participated in the first event day. Each session is dedicated to specific aspects of COIL, virtual mobility, and internationalization. Therefore, participants can join discussions on topics most relevant to their professional interests.

For those unable to attend all sessions, video records will be available.

All registered participants will receive records of all four days of the forum and will be able to watch them at their convenience.

Registration for the forum is open: [HERE]

Forum program: [HERE]

Connection link: [HERE]

See you at the COIL Forum of the Alliance of Ukrainian Universities!